Episode 024: Crystal Kirch and the W-S-Q

Show Notes

This week Matthew Moore talks with veteran flipped educator, and now learning specialist Crystal Kirch. Crystal is the author of the book Flipping With Kirch, as well as serving as a Flipped Learning Network board member. I had the pleasure of sitting down to talk with Crystal…twice as you will hear in the podcast. Although her book has been out for a few years now, this was my first reading and acquaintance with the W-S-Q method. Join us as we talk to a pioneer and voice of experience in the flipped community.

Enjoy the show and we welcome feedback via comments, tweets to hosts and/or the AskTheFLN Twitter account or as a comment via iTunes.

If you would like to support The Flipped Learning Network, please visit our page where you can consider how to support your not-for-profit community.

Guest Bio

Crystal Kirch has been an educator since 2007 and involved with flipped learning since 2011.  After several years teaching high school math in a traditional, teacher-centered model, she stumbled across the flipped classroom idea and began transforming her classroom into a more student-centered, active learning, higher order thinking learning space where students were supported more effectively and challenged in ways that were not possible before. After three years of flipping her class, she transitioned out of the classroom to be a Digital Learning Coach, where she had the opportunity to work with teachers of all subject areas on enhancing the learning environment by utilizing the power of different technologies.  She currently works as a Secondary Math Curriculum Specialist, supporting math teachers from grades 6-12 on curriculum and instruction. Crystal is well-known as a reflective practitioner through her blog Flipping with Kirch, which she began in January of 2012, as a way to reflect and share her journey with the flipped classroom.  The blog documents her weekly successes and failures, as well as lessons learned along the way, that helped her build a successful flipped learning environment structured around a model called the WSQ (Watch – Summarize – Question). She enjoys sharing her experiences through blogging, Twitter (@crystalkirch), and by presenting at conferences such as CUE, FlipCon, and ISTE. She is the author of Flipping with Kirch: The Ups and Downs from Inside my Flipped Classroom (2016) and contributing author in the book Flipped Learning: Gateway to Student Engagement (2014). Crystal is well-known as a reflective practitioner through her blog Flipping with Kirch, which she began in January, of 2012, as a way to reflect and share her journey with the flipped classroom. 

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Episode 023: Research, Digital Natives, Flipped Learning & Two Pints PLC

Show Notes

This week Matthew Moore had the opportunity to sit down with Michael Ralph and Laurence Woodruff via Skype to join them on their podcast Two Pint PLC at twopintplc.com and be available from their site in the near future. Two Pint PLC is a podcast focused heavily on education research and informed opinions over a pint of a favorite beverage.  I only hope they find my research more impressive than my unsweetened iced tea.

This episode of AskTheFLN is actually the audioblog version to a companion piece on our main site flippedlearning.org.  Why post this as an ATFLN episode or why do audioblog components at all?  I don’t always have time to sit and read blogs, let alone research, but I do have quite a bit of windshield time and would love to spend more of it listening to others in the flipped community.  It literally takes only a few extra minutes of recording and Audacity work to add the audio element to any blog and if it strikes a chord with readers and listeners then the time is well spent.  While maybe not as riveting as our interviews we do here at ATFLN, I hope you find this 15 minute listen worth your time as well.

 

Enjoy the show and we welcome feedback via comments, tweets to hosts and/or the AskTheFLN Twitter account or as a comment via iTunes.

If you would like to support The Flipped Learning Network, please visit our page where you can consider how to support your not-for-profit community.

Guest Bio

No guest this week, you are just stuck listening to me.

Matthew is the author of the book DIBs: Using Digital Instruction Blocks, available on Amazon.com. He is also a board member for the Flipped Learning Network and a Co-founder of the Illinois Flipped & Blended Learning Network . Matthew is a mathematics teacher with seventeen years of experience at the high school level and has also served as an adjunct instructor at the local community college for the since 2004. He can be followed at @matthew_t_moore and maintains a web site at matthewtmoore.wordpress.com

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Episode 022: Starting Jr. High…As The Teacher w/ Jen Brummer

Show Notes

This week Matthew Moore talks with veteran junior high science teacher Jen Brummer about starting over at a fresh school well into a successful career.  Mrs. Brummer is a teaching veteran of 19 years in the science classroom, but this year she began a new chapter at a new school.  We discussed what it is like to move from a long term teaching job in one junior high to take on the challenges of teaching in a different district with new colleagues. What does it feel like to be the new kid on the block?  How does the attitude of the staff at the new school impact and affect that transition. Join us as we discuss being the new kid on the block. Enjoy the show and we welcome feedback via comments, tweets to hosts and/or the AskTheFLN Twitter account or as a comment via iTunes. If you would like to support The Flipped Learning Network, please visit our page where you can consider how to support your not-for-profit community.

Guest Bio

Jen Brummer is a science teacher of 19 year experience. She is an engaging educator with an excitement for science and love of junior high students. A great opportunity to make a transition provided this wife and mother a chance to start junior high in a new district. Continue reading

Episode 020 Talking Teacher Tool Making with @MrDeltaMath, Zach Korzyk

Show Notes

This week Matthew Moore talks with education tool creator Zach Korzyk This podcast focuses on Zach Korzyk, the creator of an amazing free learning tool called DeltaMath, but the focus is NOT math but the story and philosophy of an educator trying to meet the needs of his students. DeltaMath is a great tool but what I found most engaging is the educational philosophies of the educator that have shaped this tool.  We talk about what it takes to make a top shelf education tool and provided to students and teachers for free.  We talk about how his students have helped shape a tool that is actively being used by 25000 student right now.  Finally, we talk about the impact that one teacher in New York can have from his classroom and his apartment on so many teachers and student.  This is a great tool for flipped classrooms, but is an even more powerful story of making a better tool because it is good for students.  Enjoy the show and we welcome feedback via comments, tweets to hosts and/or the AskTheFLN Twitter account or as a comment via iTunes. If you would like to support The Flipped Learning Network, please visit our page where you can consider how to support your not-for-profit community.

Guest Bio

Zach Korzyk is the creator of DeltaMath, a free online resource used by thousands of teachers and nearly a million students. He is in his 12th year as a public school math teacher at Manhattan Village Academy and also a Math for America Master Teacher.  Continue reading

Episode 019 – Talking Definition of Flipped With Aaron Sams

Show Notes

This week Matthew Moore talks with Aaron Sams from the FlipTech East Coast 2018 conference.

Aaron is the well known co-author of books covering flipped learning and its impact on nearly every traditional education discipline, but these days he is focused on training educators at the university level.  In June of 2018 Aaron was the keynote speaker at FlipTech East Coast 2018 where he discussed and dissected some of the many definitions of flipped learning. I had the opportunity to talk with Aaron about his keynote, the “best” definition of flipped learning, and the priority of good practice over perfect definitions. Listen in on the thoughts of an educator who benefits from longest perspective in flipped learning.

The conference was held on June 29 and 30 at Collingswood High School in New Jersey. We are in the planning stages for future FlipTech conferences, feel free to contact us if you would like to participate in bringing a FlipTech conference to your city or country.

Enjoy the show and we welcome feedback via comments, tweets to hosts and/or the AskTheFLN Twitter account or as a comment via iTunes.

If you would like to support The Flipped Learning Network, please visit our page where you can consider how to support your not-for-profit community.

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Episode 17: Talking Mission, Purpose & Screencast-O-Matic With Christine Umayam

Show Notes

This week Matthew Moore talks with Christine Umayam from the FlipTech East Coast 2018 conference.

I met Christine as FlipTech East Coast this past June where she was representing conference sponsor Screencast-O-Matic. While Screencast-O-Matic is a great tool for flipped learning and has many other uses in education, I was more struck Christine’s story and that is what we spend the bulk of the episode exploring.  I found an amazing story of vocation and avocation melding with a purpose centered in heart and compassion.  Listen to Christine’s journey thus far and the mission that is at the front of her mind. 

The conference was held on June 29 and 30 at Collingswood High School in New Jersey. We are in the planning stages for future FlipTech conferences, feel free to contact us if you would like to participate in bringing a FlipTech conference to your city or country.

Enjoy the show and we welcome feedback via comments, tweets to hosts and/or the AskTheFLN Twitter account or as a comment via iTunes.

If you would like to support The Flipped Learning Network, please visit our page where you can consider how to support your not-for-profit community.

 

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Episode 16: Talking Twitter with @bakerhhhs a.k.a. Chris Baker

Show Notes

This week Matthew Moore talks with Chris Baker from the FlipTech East Coast 2018 conference.

Chris Baker is a name I have known and someone I have talked to online for a few years now, but this is the first opportunity I had to meet him in real life. Chris is very active in the twitter community and participates in a variety of forums with thoughtful and well informed takes on many things in education.  We sat down and talked about the role and use of twitter and social media as educators.  We didn’t always agree, but there was some great conversation and ideas that educators need to address about social media both in the classroom and for use personally.

The conference was held on June 29 and 30 at Collingswood High School in New Jersey. We are in the planning stages for future FlipTech conferences, feel free to contact us if you would like to participate in bringing a FlipTech conference to your city or country.

Enjoy the show and we welcome feedback via comments, tweets to hosts and/or the AskTheFLN Twitter account or as a comment via iTunes.

If you would like to support The Flipped Learning Network, please visit our page where you can consider how to support your not-for-profit community.

Guest Bio(s):

Married, two kids (15 year old boy and 17 year old girl). Paramedic since 1996, work mostly weekends during school year and all summer. Teaching HS anatomy & physiology since 2006 at Hatboro-Horsham High School in Philadelphia suburbs. Dovetails perfectly with EMS; the course is based on case studies – evaluating, diagnosing and treating sick and inured patients. My favorite quote. It’s our classroom mantra. Banner courtesy of a student who is now in nursing school. “Student, you do not study to pass the test. You study to prepare for the day when you are the only thing between a patient and the grave.” 

 

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Episode 014 – Talking Coding, Robots & Special Education With Jen Duda & Chris Harris

Show Notes

This week Matthew Moore joins Jen Duda and Chris Harris from the FlipTech East Coast 2018 conference.

Jen Duda and Chris Harris talk with Matthew about reaching students in a special education classroom using robots and coding.  Jen and Chris talk about the impact that motivational and intentional activity has on all aspects of a classroom that includes students who are chronologically 3rd to 6th grade but have significant challenges.  Listen to the powerful and uplifting message of a teacher and administrator that use technology as a motivator to create success with these students.

The conference was held on June 29 and 30 at Collingswood High School in New Jersey. We are in the planning stages for future FlipTech conferences, feel free to contact us if you would like to participate in bringing a FlipTech conference to your city or country.

Enjoy the show and we welcome feedback via comments, tweets to hosts and/or the AskTheFLN Twitter account or as a comment via iTunes.

If you would like to support The Flipped Learning Network, please visit our page where you can consider how to support your not-for-profit community.

Guest Bio(s):

Jennifer Kressler Duda is a Special Education Teacher at Mercer Elementary School at Mercer County Special Services School District. She works primarily with Autistic students and is given the most behavioral students due to her ability to exceed expectations in terms of her students growth and success. Several years ago Jennifer began to incorporate coding and robotics in her class as a way to expose her students to her passion for technology and prepare them for the future. Jennifer frequently incorporates American Sign Language (ASL), music and song into her high energy lessons.

Jennifer is a co-organizer of SpEdcamp New Jersey (spedcampnj.org) and recently joined the organizing team for Edcamp New Jersey (edcampnewjersey.net). She is also a member of the Future Ready Schools New Jersey Leadership Task Force.

Jennifer has approximately 10 years experience in Special Education. You can follow her on Twitter @DynamicDuda338

Christopher Harris is the Director of Technology at Pennsauken Public Schools, a Pre-K to 12 public school district serving over 5000 students located in southern New Jersey. He is also the Principal for the Burling School, a K-4 Elementary school housing regular and special education programs. Christopher is responsible for creating and executing the district technology plan, as well as, the day-to-day operations of the Burling School. Prior to joining Pennsauken Public Schools, he served as the Principal of Mercer Elementary School, a grade 3-8 special needs’ school at Mercer County Special Services School District (MCSSSD) and the Principal of the Salem Campus at Salem County Special Services School District (SCSSSD), where Christopher created and oversaw special needs’ educational and vocational programs for students aged 5 through 21. 

Chris has 20 years experience in education serving as a Principal, Assistant Principal and Teacher. You can follow him on Twitter @Principal_H

 

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Episode 012 – Teacher & Developer Kyle Niemis Talking Classroom Q

Show Notes

This week Matthew Moore joins Kyle Niemis from the FlipTech East Coast 2018 conference.

Kyle and I talked about problem solving in his classroom and the genesis of his project ClassroomQ.

The conference was held on June 29 and 30 at Collingswood High School in New Jersey. We are in the planning stages for future FlipTech conferences, feel free to contact us if you would like to participate in bringing a FlipTech conference to your city or country.

Enjoy the show and we welcome feedback via comments, tweets to hosts and/or the AskTheFLN Twitter account or as a comment via iTunes.

If you would like to support The Flipped Learning Network, please visit our page where you can consider how to support your not-for-profit community.

Kyle Niemis has been a middle school science teacher for twelve years and is a strong advocate for Flipped learning. Himself and another teacher created ClassroomQ in 2017.

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